After a long drive, Eleanor finally pulled her car to a slow stop on the empty street outside the café.
The silence of the area unsettled her, and she let out a shaky breath before reaching for her sunglasses, slipping them on to shield her face.
She leaned back for a moment, her heart pounding as frustration and anxiety warred within her. She hated meeting Alexander like this, but she had no choice.
With a final exhale, she opened the door and stepped out, her heels clicking against the pavement as she approached the small café.
Just like the last time, it was eerily empty, the warm glow from the hanging lights doing little to ease the anxiety building in her chest.
Her eyes immediately found Alexander, seated in a secluded corner, his expression already twisted with irritation.
Eleanor squared her shoulders and walked over, sliding into the chair across from him. She barely had a chance to settle before his voice cut through the silence.
